FRS 002N — Sec. 001
— (2 unit) — CRN 55914 — W 5:10-6:45pm
— 175A Phys/Geo
Shaking It: Earthquakes in Human and California
History
Instructor: James McClain, Department of Geology, College of Letters
and Science
Description: Earthquakes have played an essential
role in human
history. This is certainly true in our own state, where earthquakes
affect California’s
history, its scenic beauty, and its economic growth. We will explore the how,
where, and why of earthquakes around the world but with particular emphasis
on large historical events in California and the western United
States. We will
compare earthquakes in fiction and reality, and how earthquakes in the west
compare with those in other parts of the country and world. We will
also examine
how we can prepare for earthquakes, and mitigate their impact. In
honor of the
impending 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, this year
we are going to focus more on the earthquakes in California. In addition, we
will discuss tsunamis because of the recent disaster in Asia. The
goals of this
seminar will be to provide new college students with an appreciation of the
role of earthquakes in shaping philosophy, economics, and history. Particular
emphasis will be on the historical earthquakes of California and their role
in California’s growth and development. Students will gain an
appreciation
for physical and geological processes active in the Earth. It is hoped that
they will be more aware of the threat of earthquakes, and how to prepare for
that threat. Also, it is expected that students will develop skills
in the presentation
of materials to their peers, and how information is displayed in
oral presentations
(power point generally) and posters.
Format:
The seminar
will require that the students participate in a discussion for 1
3/4 hours per
week for 8 weeks (14 contact hours) and a 10 hour field trip to Pt. Reyes to
examine faults and the effects of earthquakes. Students will not be required
to purchase texts, but, they will be required to use the library
(reserve room)
and the web to find information for discussion, as well for their
presentation.
I will place several texts and popular readings on reserve. Students will be
expected to read materials on reserve so that they are prepared for the class
discussions. They must also participate in the field trip and take an active
role in the discussion during the trip. We will examine faults in the Winters
area (responsible for the 1892 Vacaville-Winters earthquakes), in
Green Valley,
in Napa County, and finally at Pt. Reyes, site of the San Andreas
Fault. Students
will be required to choose a historic earthquake in the western United States
that took place before 1989. They will undertake a research project
where they
give the geological background, the historical background and the
effects, long-term
as well as short term on economy and history of the world. Students will make
an oral presentation, as well as a written presentation consisting
of a poster.
Grading: Grading criteria will be: Participation in
class discussions: 35%; Poster presentation 35%; and Oral
presentation 30%.
About the Instructor: Dr. Jim McClain is a seismologist and
geophysicist in the Department of Geology. He uses geophysics to
study processes
acting in the Earth such as volcanoes, seafloor spreading, and
continental collisions.
Over the past 20 years, he and his students have studied
earthquakes under the
sea and in California. He teaches introductory physical geology,
marine geology,
oceanography, and graduate classes in seismology.